Relief efforts hampered as East Coast reels from Irene

Relief efforts hampered as East Coast reels from Irene

A street is flooded on Coney Island after Hurricane Irene hit, in New York, August 28, 2011. Irene weakened to tropical storm status Sunday as it hit New York City, the National Hurricane Center said, but the still powerful storm was flooding parts of lower Manhattan.

Storm-relief supplies are being airlifted to Vermont towns which remain cut off after being hit by Irene, as eastern states reel from the after-effects of the hurricane turned tropical storm.

The death toll stands at 44 people killed across 13 U.S. states.

Vermont has suffered its worst flooding in 75 years. Rescue efforts to many towns were being hampered by roads that were either blocked or washed away.